First, the background:
I moved back to my hometown almost 3 years ago, after living in Colorado for eleven years. Everything is hunky dory here, I love living here, I like being close to my family. But trying to get a high-tech job in a teeny tiny snow-covered town is difficult, to say the least.
When I moved here, I had a tech writing gig where the people I worked for promised me the moon. It turned out to be less than moon-like, so I quit that about a year ago. Since then, I’ve tried my hand at turning into a Web developer (boring as hell, and not at all lucrative up here) and finally, through many tear-filled conversations with Mr. Athena, decided that if I can’t get a job I might as well be an Artiste and have therefore been working on my writing skills. I’ve even gotten something published. Go me! I like the writing stuff, but honestly - I can’t really bank on writing the next best seller, so I keep my eyes open for potential jobs.
Late last summer I interviewed for and was offered a software development/graphic design position at a local place. I got really excited about the whole thing, but when I finally received the offer it was so low that it was insulting. The 20-year-old common laborers that my uncle - a drywall contracter - employs to sweep up and run errands make more than I was offered, and have better benefits. As we’re not hurting for cash that badly, I turned it down.
Fast forward to February, and I spy a real live software developer position advertised in the local paper. It was as good of an ad as I’ve seen - reminiscent of something I would have replied to when I lived in a larger area. I could hardly believe my eyes. I sent in a resume, and was called for an interview a few weeks later.
It sounds like a real software house. They’re in cahoots with a larger business in the area, and they’ve got an office on the west coast. I couldn’t believe it.
That was almost 6 weeks ago. I’d almost given up on the place, but they finally, finally called me earlier this week. They asked me to fill out some paperwork, and I’m going in today “to get this ball rolling,” as the guy said to me on the phone.
I’m trying to tell myself that there’s a very good chance that they’ll once again lowball me. Minimum wage and free pizza on Fridays, that type of thing. But maybe - just maybe - they’ll come through with a real offer. Something more than a 20 year old laborer makes. Benefits! And even better, the work itself looks interesting. It’s using the latest and greatest technology. It’s a Real Job.
Wish me luck. I go in at 11.